How to prevent basement flooding

With the abundance of rain and news that Toronto Island is off limits to non-residents until the flooding situation is solved, we want to take a few minutes to remind you of how you can prevent basement flooding in your home.

There are numerous causes of basement flooding, which makes having a comprehensive checklist so important. Cracks in your home foundation and window wells, backed-up eavestroughs, sump pump failure, these can all lead to flooding. Sometimes it’s completely out of your control, like a sewer issue.

Here are a fews things you can do to prevent basement flooding:

1) Seal everything

Conduct a thorough examination of your foundation and window wells. If there are cracks anywhere, seal it with caulk. Before sealing, determine the depth of the crack. If the crack is deep, you may need to chip away at some of the concrete to ensure you’re fully sealing the crack. If caulk isn’t working on your foundation, you can try using concrete caulk. For window wells, you can also get covers to prevent rain from pooling.

2) Clear eavestroughs and downspouts

After the winter, there is likely a lot of build-up in your eavestroughs. Don’t be afraid to get up on the ladder and get your hands dirty. This is a pretty easy fix, it just takes some time, and it’s totally worth it because repairing a roof will be way more of a hassle. It’s also important to make sure your downspout is directed away from your foundation and at least three feet away.

3) Check your grading

If your grading is sloping towards your foundation, this needs to be fixed as soon as possible. Even if you’re not having problems with flooding now, water constantly pooling around your foundation is not good. Depending on how severe the slope is, you may be able to remedy the situation yourself by adding soil around your home. Otherwise, you need to hire a professional.

4) Increase greenspace

The more greenspace you have around your home, the more water absorption there will be. This will also come in handy in the winter to absorb melted snow. Plus, more greenery can add to your curb appeal!

5) Get a checkup

Odds are, you don’t understand the plumbing in your home, and that’s fine. You’re not a plumber. So, if you haven’t had a professional inspect your home before, then schedule an appointment. Make sure you are using a city-licensed qualified plumber though. This is a great way to catch issues before they become issues. Yes, a plumber can be expensive, but you’ll be paying the plumber even more if you don’t take this preventative step.

6) Install a high-water alarm system

A product recently featured on eieihome.com, called The Sentry Z Control, is something you can install in conjunction with your sump pump. The high-water alarm monitors water levels in wells, sumps, holding tanks or septic tanks, and when the water rises or the pump stops working, you’ll receive a text or email notifying you of the issue. There is also an audible alarm that can be controlled through the smartphone app.